Wire-fence nail.



M. R. FI'NDLEY.

WIRE FENCE NAIL.

ArrLIoMIoN nLBnNov. as, 1910'l 987,709. Patented 11111.28, 1911.

ATTu RM1- Y THE NoR'RIs perras co., wAsmNcmN. :LIC:-

MATTHEW R. FINDLEY, 0F NEW CONCGRD, OHIO.

WIRE-FENCE NAIL.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

llatented Mar. 28, i911.

Application filed November 23, 1910. Serial No. 598,762.

To all whom it may conce-m:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW R. FINDLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of New Concord, county of ltfuskingum, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Fence llails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a nail of a character designed for securing the wires of a wire-fence to their fence posts, and it has for its primary object to provide a simple, cheap and durable device which is equally as efficient for the purpose of attaching wires as the wire staples commonly employed, and which, at the same time, possesses the advantage of being more conveniently handled and more readily driven into a post.

Another object Within the contemplation of this invention is to provide a wire-attaching device which may be partially entered in a post prior to the application of and stretching of the wire which it is intended to secure, thus aording means whereby the wire may, during the stretching operation, be guided and held in juxtaposition to the posts, and to those portions of the posts, to

which it is later to be fixed.

A still further object is to provide a nail of the character mentioned embodying means whereby its entrance between the fibers of a wooden post is facilitated, whereby turning of the nail while being driven into the post is effectually prevented, and whereby marked resistance to retraction of the nail is presented.

With these and other objects in view, the invention accordingly consists in the features which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth.

In describing the invention in detail, ref erence is herein had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification in which- Figure l is an enlarged top or plan view of the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively side and bottom views of the same; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. l.

Referring to said drawing, in which like reference characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views-l indica-tes a body of tapered form having an enlarged head 2 which, while coincident at its lateral and under sides with the similarly-located sides of said body, is of materially greater vertical width than said body, being of ovoid or elliptical form in cross section.

Beginning at a point in the upper surface of the body l substantially midway between the ends of the nail and extending rcarwardly into and partially through said body l is a plain oblique face 3 which constitutes one side of a diagonally-extending slot-like wire-receiving pocket t, the opposite side of which is formed by a parallel plain face 5 formed on the under side cf an upwardly and forwardly inclined barb G of rhamphoid cusp shape carried by said head and coincident therewith at its top and sides. Said pocket 4 terminates at its inner end, or adjacent to the head 2, in a plane curve 7. The barb 6 is of such length as to admit of the entrance of its tapered point into the post against which the wire is to rest, thus effectually preventing withdrawal of the latter from the pocket Ll.

The body of the nail has on its upper surface adjacent to its point a short upwardly directed spine 8 adapted for the twofold purpose of facilitating the entrance of the body between the fibers of the wood and of preventing the turning of said body during and after driving, as well as for assisting in maintaining said body against retraction. A longitudinally-extending groove 9 is provided in the under side of the body l, providing means whereby increased resistance against withdrawal from a post and against turning in the latter is offered.

As is well known, the wire staple most commonly employed for attaching fence wires has two substantially parallel pointed tines of equal length. This staple requires that both points enter the post substantially at the same time; a double resistance against driving is offered thereby; and bending of such staple while being driven frequently results, owing not only to the unequal resistance offered by the wood of the post at the different entrance points, but also to the fact that no true driving-head is presented whereon the impact of a hammer may be received for imparting a uniform impulse to the separated points. The noted objections are obviated in the present invention by reason of the provision of a single body which obtains a firm seating and assumes an undeviating course prior to the engagement of the cuspated or cup-shaped barb 6 with the post.

In practice, nails embodying the invention may be partially driven into the fenceposts prior to stringing the wire to be secured thereby. The wire then being strung and inserted in the pockets 4, the nails serve as guides therefor during the stretching operation, after which they may be driven into place upon the stretched wire. This is a most desirable feature when wires are to be placed upon a curve-particularly when said wires occupy a position on the posts on the inner side of the curve.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A wire-fence nail comprising a tapered body having an elliptical head whose lateral and under sides are coincident with the simi'- lar sides of said body, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined cuspated barb carried by said head, a slot-like wire-receiving pocket being constituted between said body and said barb.

2. A wire-fence nail comprising a tapered body having an elliptical head whose lateral and under sides are coincident with the similar sides of said body, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined cuspated barb carried by said head, an oblique slot being formed between said body and said barb for I'GCBlVllg 2L WlIQ.

8. A wire-fence nail comprising a tapered body having an elliptical head whose lateral and under sides are coincident with the similar sides of said body, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined cuspated barb carried by said head, said body and said barb being so related that an obliquely extending wirereceiving slot is constituted between them.

Il. A wire-fence nail comprising a tapered body having an elliptical head whose lateral and under sides are coincident with the similar sides of said body, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined cuspated barb carried by said head, the adjacent surfaces of said body and said barb being shaped to form parallel faces defining an oblique wire-receiving slot. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses. WATTHEV R. FINDLEY. lilitnesses JAMES R. MOORE, JESSE W. VVILsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

